Assig-noe to



M. F. DAVORAN. APPARATUS FOR ELECTBOPLAHNG, APPLICATION FlLED AUG.I2.1918.

Patented Oct. 7,1919, 2 SHEETS-SHEETI M. F. DAVORAN.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTBOPLATING. APPLICATION HLED AuG. 12. 1918.-

Patented Out. 7,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` article-carrier out 'of the bath afterpassing MICHAEL r. DnVonAN, 'or'cINcINNATI, oHIo, AssrGNon 'ro .THETCRANE aumnnn MANUFACTUBING coMrANY,oF cINcINNA'rI, emo, A CORPORATION oF oHIo.

APPAR ATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING.

To all whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL F. DAvoRAN, a'citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State vof Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forElectroplating, of which'the following ls a specification.

My invention relates to means for msuring good electric contact betweena'tra'vehng article-carrier and the terminals of an electro-platingbath, and is especially useful in apparatus for electro-platingemploylng the continuous operation principle, such for instance as shownand .describedy in my application fo-r Letters Patent 'of the UnitedStates, forimprovements inrmethod of and apparatus for` electro-platmg,Serlal No.

184,265,1fi1ed August. 3, 1917, of which this application is la'division It is the object of my invention to pro- Vide cathode-bars foran electro-plating bath 'arranged in such manner as to receive a portionof an article-carrier therebetween for making good electric contact withthe cathode-bars and a traveling article-carrier so correlated'that acontact-part .of the article-carrier is received between the cathodebarsand urged into frictional lateral contactwith thebars at the respectivesides of said contact-part; further, to provide a plat-v ing tank withcathode-bars at different ele- Vations and a traveling article-carriervhav- -ing a contact-part received between said cathode-bars and urgedinto lateral contact with said cathode-bars by gravity; and, further, toprovide means arranged to lower` the articles into the bath and pass thesame along the cathode-'bars, with a contact-part of the article-carriermaking lateral contact with the cathode-bars, and for lifting the alongthe cathode-bars.-

The invention willV be further readily. understood from the followingdescription and claims, and from |the drawings, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device, partly broken away,and showing an article-carrier lowered into the plating tank at one endof the tank and having a contact-part thereof received between thecathode-bars, and showing' an article- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. '7, 1919.

Serial No. 184,265.v Divided and this application filed August 12, 1918.Serial No. 249,543.

carrier elevated out of the tank at the other end of the tank.

Fig; 2 is a Vertical cross-section of the same,'taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the plating tank.

Fig. 4 is a |detail in Vertical cross-section taken dn the line 4-4 ofFig. 3, showing the means for attaching the anode-bars.-

Fig. 5 is a detail in Vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3,showing the means forv attaching the cathode-bars Fig. 6 is across-section, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, showing a detail of themeans for supporting the article-support.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2, showing adetail of the article-carrier. v

F ig. 8 is a detail'in Vertical section, taken on the 1in'e'8 8 of Fig.1.

Fi'g. 9 is an axial section of the articlesuiport, taken on the line 9-9of Fig. 10; an v Fig. 10 is a cross-section of the same, taken in the'plane of theline 10-10 of Fig. 9.

A suitable plating tank is represented at 11 and is exemplified ascontaining a. suitable electrolytic plating bath 12. The plating bathcomprises anode-bars 15, 16, which are electro-conductive bars havingflexible therewith, the fiexible electric conductors .leading from asuitable battery orv generator.

Anodes 18 are suspended in the electrolytic bath in the Plating=tank.,and are electrically connected with the anode-bars by anelectroconductiveSuspension-book 19. Both of the electricall'y connectedanode-bars are positive pole bars of theplating bath and connect inmultlple with one pole of the battery or generator. The anode bars aresuitably secured to the frame of the plating tank, as by means ofclamp-'brackets 21 suitably secured to the framing of the tank by bolts22, the bars being insulated from the tank by insulating bushings 23through which the bolts are received and by insulating wa'shers 24, 25,respectively between the head of the bolt and the bracket and betweenthe bracket and the tank.

The articles 27 to be plated form the cathodes of the receive theplating from the anodes by means of the electrolytic action in theplating bath.

plating bath arranged to' Electro-conductive bars 31, 32, extend.

lengthwise of the plating tank and constitute cathode-bars, exemplifiedas supported from the sides of the tank by brackets 33 mounted on arms34 secured to the sides of the tank by bolts 35. Eachof the brackets isinsulated from and secured to its arm by means of a bolt 36 which passesthrough lan insulating sleeve 37 in 'a hole 38 in the bracket, theinsulating sleeve having a flange 39 thereon between the bracket and thehead 'of the bolt 36. The bolt is threaded into the arm '34, an'insulating plate 40 being located between the bracket and the arm.

' The electro-conductive bars 31, 82, are exenplified as stifl' bars,which, at their enthe cathode-bars and the entrance'e'nd wall 46 'of thetank and an exit space 47 between the exit ends of Tthe cathode-bars'and the exit wall 48 of the tank.

The articles itv is'desired to plate are exemplified as small pieces ofhardware, repreaov sented' by the cathodes 27, supported in manner tocause the' same to 'descend 'into the plating bath through the entrancespace 45, to pass along the cathode-bars, to have electric connectionmade therewith in manner to be hereina-fter described, and to be raisedi ``through the exit space 47 after having'received the'electrolyticaction.

The pieces 27 are exemplified'as supported on pins 51 of anarticle-support 52, the pins extending, from cross-bars 53 projecting'from a center shank 54. The shank, cross-` bars and pins are |ofelectro-conductive ,material.` That portion of the shank and crossbarssubject to the electrol tic action of the electrolyte of the platingath, is provided with insulation, as shown by the insulating covering55'about the shank, and the insulat-I ing coverings 56 about thecross-bars. These insulating coverings may be coatings of porcelainfused on the article-support.

A plurality of the article-supports is preferably provided, thearticle-supports being moved lengthwise of and through the plat-- ingtank. This may be accomplished'in manner to form a continuous operatlon,as more fully descrlibed and cl'aimed in my aforesaid application.

Article-carriers are exemplified at 61, as suspended carriers providedwith fianged wheels 62 which move along a pair of tracks 63 suspendedbyfsuitable hangers l64 from the ceiling of the room in which theapparatus is located. The tracks are represented as angle-ironssupported to face each other.

The fianges on the Wheels coact with the' tending from the-main frame.

inner edges of the angle-irons and act to support the article-supportwith relation to the cathode-bars, in manner to be hereinafterdescribed.4 f I The article-carriers comprise a main frame 66 which issuspended by a bearing 67 from an axle 68 to which the flanged Wheels 62are secured. I

The article-carriers are connected together and propelled along thetracks by a suitable link-chain 71, which is preferably an endless linkchain having a path coincident with the preferably endless pair of.tracks 63. The main frame 66 may comprlise a link 72 of the link-chainto which the respective upper and lower parts of the main frame aresecured, as by means of bolts 73. 'The main frame comprises a depending'guide 75 with. which a supplemental frame,-

exemplified as a supporting rod 76, has guid'ed 'movement, as by beingreceived in a `guide-groove 77 of said guide and held' therein by means'of straps 78. The lower part of said supplemental frame is providedvwith a fork 79 in which an insulating spool 80 is secured, as on a bolt81 received in bearings 82 in the tines of said fork. The shank 54 ofthe article-support is provided with a hook 83' arranged to bereleasably receivedover said spool, being received in the annular groove84 in said spool,so that said shank is insulated from the fork by meansof the bottom of said annular' groove and the side fianges of saidspool. The spool further aids in positioning the article-support withrelation to the cathode-bars.

A sheave 86 is fixed on ashaft 87 j'our- I naled in a bearing 88 on abracket 89, ex'- has a pinion 90 fast thereon. A flexible connectionI 91is secured to the sheave as at 92 and to a lug 93 extending from thesupplemental frame 76, s'o that when the Shea-ve is turned the fiexibleconnection is received" in the groove 94 of the sheave for vchanging theelevation of the article-support.

A lever 96 is pivoted onl a studshaft 97 located in a bearing98 in thebracket 89. This lever comprises a gear 99 which meshes with the pinion90.

Means are provided for swinging thelever and thereby `changing theelevation of the,

article-support. This is shown accomplished by causing4 coaction betweenthe swinging end of the lever and supplemental tracks 100. Thus theswinging end of the lever is provided With a roller 102 journaled in afork 104 at the free end of'the lever, the fork being preferabl-ylocated to one side of the main portion of the shank of the lever.

The roller 102 normally ride-s on the under Thi Shaa f surface of one ofthe tracks 63, in which relation the article-support is in loweredpositlon, for lnstance, located in the' lating tank, the lowering beingaccomplis ed by permitting the roller to ride along a retreating portion105 of the supplemental trackfi `When the roller rides along thesupplemental track, the article-support is in elevated position, theeleVa-ting being accomplished by permitting the roller to ride along thedescending portion 106 of the supplemental.

' traok. If desired suitable means inay be the article-supportisaccomplished for causing entire raising and descending movements withina short range of the progressive travel of the article-supports.

In order to prevent a j arring of the arti- 'cle-support when raised orlowered, and

especially to provide for a quick lowering without jarring ,of thearticle-support, I

provide cushioning means, these cushioning means being exemplified' as aspring 107, one end oif the spring being received in a hole in the leverand the other end of the spring being hooked into an eye-bolt 108 havingadjustable connection by means of a nut 109 with a lug- 110 ofthe mainframe for adjusting the spring.

l`It is desirable to maintain proper relation betweenthetraveling-carrier and the tracks during operation of-the lever bypreyenting a swinging of the carrier about a Vertical axis duringswinging movement of the lever, the lever being shown at one side of thecarrier and to the side of the propelling chain i therefor. Foraccomplishing this I provide the supplemental tracks. as grooved tracks.having the lengthwise groove 111 formed'by the side flanges 112 of theU-bar, which forms the supplemental tracks. A doubleflanged wheel 113 isinstancedv as on the shaft 97, being rotatable on said shaft and heldagainst endwise movement thereon.

. The flanges of this wheel slope outwardly towardthe ends of the wheel,forming a spool- 'i like arrangement;` The inner faces of the flangescoact with the outer side edges of the fianges 112 of the supplementaltrack, for locating the double-fianged Wheel` centrally with relation tothe track.

Then 'in the travel of thev article-carrier the roller 102 is receivedin the groove 111 of the supplement-al'track and the flanges of thedouble-flanged Wheel are received at the outside of the side `fianges ofsaid groove,

'the travel of the lever is maintained in a path parallel withl thetracks 63 and parallel with the cathode-bars, for preventing a' thecathode-bars, accomplished in the present instance by placing thecathode-bars at different elevations and in Vertical planes extendinglengthwise' of the path of travel of the article-supports, thecathode-bars being spaced apart by a Vertical space 114. Thearticle-support is preferably so suspended that its gravity will causelateral pressure between the cathode-support and the bars along which ittravels. This lateral pressure is instanced as between the shank of thearticle-support and both thebars, for accomplishing which the Suspensionofthe articlesupport is had in such manner that the upper bar 31l causesa slight movement laterally of the shank 54 toward the bar 32, the

article-support being normally suspended article support permitting thisslight movement, but insuring such contact with both cathode-bars, thegravity action-of the article-support being such as to cause lateralpressurefof the shank against both of the bars 31, 32, for 'insuringintimate electrical contact between said bars and isaid'shank. Vhen' theshank 54 approaches the cathode- .bars it is readily directed intothespace 114 bythe laterally bent ends of said bars, forming acontracting mouth for the entrance end of said space. b

'When the article-support arrives at the end of the plating tank, it iselevated through the exit space 47 in manner hereinbefore bescribed, thearticle-carrier l continuing its travel.

My improved device insures good electric connection between thecathode-bars and the cathodes while the latter travel lengthwise of theplating tank, so as to receive the full vbenefit of electrolytic actionon the electrolyte and a maximum amount of plating while passing throughthe tank.

Having thus fully described my invention,

`minals extending lengthwise thereof in secure by 'lproximity toeachother, a conveyer for the articles to be plated, a catlde-carriersuspendedtherefrom, said cathode-terminals located at differentelevations and said cathode-carrier arranged forl laterally pressingsaid cathode-terminals by gravity.

2. In an electro-plating apparatus, the combination of a plating tank,coacting cathode-terminals extending lengthwise lao thereof, aconveyerfor the articles 'to be plated, a cathode-carrier suspended therefrom,said conveyer comprlslng means for. .lowering the artlcle-carrymgportion of said cathode-carrier into said tank andplacing saidcathode-carrier in coactive relatlon With said cathode-terminals, landmeans for ele-` '3. In an electro-plating app-aratus, the.

combination of a conveyer, an electro-plat- .ng tank, coactingcathode-terminals ex ten ing lengthwise of said tank spaced from therespective ends o f saidt-ank, said cath-,

ode-terminals having a' Vertical space between them, the entrance endsof said cathode-terminals bent laterally away from one. another forforming an entering converging month for said Vertical space, acathodecarrier comprising a stem and an article attaching portion, saidconveyer comprising means forl lowering said article attaching portioninto one end of said tank and said stem into said converging mouth forguid'. ance into and passage through said Vertical space in coactiverelation with said ca'thodeterminals, and said coactingcathode-terminals and said stem arranged for lateral pressure betweenthem.

4. In an electro-plating apparatus, the

combinationof a plating tank, cathode-terminals therefor in .the form ofelectric cathode-bars extending lengthwise of said plating tank andlocated at different elevations, a cathode-'carrier, and means forsuspending said cathode-carrier and moving the same lengthwise of saldcathode-bars between said cathode-bars for causing lato acathode-carrier and means for suspending said cathode-carrier and movingthe vsame lengthwise'of said cathode-bars between said cathode-bars forcausing lateral pressure by said cathode-carrier between and againstsaid cathode-bars by the action of gravity upon said cathode-carrier,said .cathode-'bars having their enterin'g ends relatively spread forready entrance of said cathode-carrier. A

6. In an electro-plating apparatus, the combination of anelectro-plating tank, cathode-terminals in the form of cathoclebarsextending lengthwise of said tank, one

of said cathode-bars being higher than thel other of said cathode-bars,said cathodebars having a Vertical space between them, acathode-conveyer, and a cathode-carrier suspended from said conveyer,one of said cathode-bars arranged to move said cathodecarrier intocontact with the other of said cathode-bars.

7. In an -el'ectro-plating apparatus, the

comlbination of an electro-plating tank,

.cathode-terminals in the form vof cathode- ,of said cathode-bars being'higher than the' other of said cathode-bars, said 'cathodebars having aVertical space between them, there being a Vertical space between theends of said cathode-bars and the-ends ofsaid plating tank, acathode-conve'yer anda cathode-carrier suspended from said conveyer,said conveyer comprising means for lowering said cathode-carrier at. oneof said end spaces and 'elevating said cathode-carrierl at the other ofsaid end spaces, and said higher cathode-bar arrang'ed to move saidcathodecarrier into contact with the other .of said cathode-bars. i

8. Inan electro-plating apparatus, the combination of, anelectro-plating tank, cathode-terminals in the form of cathodebarsextending lengthwise of said tank, said cathode-bars' being located atdifferent elevations, said cathode-bars having a space between them, anda cathode-carrier having a' partomovable lengthwise of andbetween saidbars, and arranged for contact with both said bars.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscri'bing witnesses. a

MICHAEL F. DAVORAN.

Witnesses:

DAWso E. BRADLEY, THERsA M. mnn;

